Sleep problems relieved by meditation

This is the most common benefit reported by people of all ages. It never failed to relieve even chronic insomnia and helped many practitioners get off sleep medications. 

Children

2-years-old

Here is the message from the mom of a 2-year-old girl. 

“I have a 2-year-old daughter who was not sleeping well at night. She would constantly toss and turn all night, and come morning time, when I would go in to wake her up, she was absolutely miserable. I was then introduced to the’ counting breaths’ method. I tried it with my daughter. To my surprise, the next day, I woke up to a completely different little girl…. or so it seemed. She was much happier and more cooperative with me than on the previous mornings. I also tried this method with her time-out if she misbehaved. Once again, to my surprise, it worked. Within a few moments, she would become much calmer and more relaxed. “ 

May 2009

8-Years-old

Report by a mother: “I would start breathing at night before I would fall asleep. I noticed it didn’t take me more than 5 minutes to pass out. I was able to clear my head and focus on sleeping instead of the 15 million different things I had to accomplish the next day or week.

My 8-year-old daughter definitely needed the breathing. She was having problems in school, with friends, and with taking instructions from her elders. I started the breathing practice with her before she would fall sleep. She first found it to be a game that would buy her a little quality time with mom plus allowed her to stay up longer. 

After about a month of doing it together, she would take it upon herself to do it alone. 

I could see the change in her attitude when she woke up and at school. It was nice for a change to receive positive reports from her teachers instead of the usual negative ones. As time went on, I would catch her falling asleep while counting the breaths.  I’d catch her with her finger stuck on a segment! 

She is also doing much better now with her relationship with her sister. They haven’t stopped fighting totally, but the arguing has calmed down a lot.  She is much more pleasant and fun to be around. The progress still continues……”

2010

Professionals

Counting my breaths to three, really works

"The version of the counting breaths technique that I had been using a lot and still use several times a week, is the version of counting to three, over and over again, without using the fingers at all, all in the mind. I practice this technique whenever I want to go to sleep. Sometimes when I start off, I hear the voice of my inner cynic say “this won’t help you fall asleep.” But I practice it anyway, and then in the morning I awake refreshed and happy. I know that counting my breaths to three really works. 

Emily Marynczak, AAHCC and Bradley Method Certified Birth Instructor

Padma Sripada M.D testified

Dr Sripada recommends this technique to her patients. 

“I have introduced the technique to some of my patients with anxiety, panic attacks, hypertension, and insomnia. Everyone who has adopted the technique has reported that it helps them relax. Some patients have reported that it has helped them sleep better and no longer rely on medications.”

A doctor of internal medicine 

Reported that she was using the technique herself and found it useful. She told one of her patients,  taking 5-6 medications and suffering from severe insomnia, to practice ‘counting breaths’ in blocks of 1 to 10 at bedtime.  She made the patient practice it in her exam room. After 2 days, the patient called and said that after a long time, she was able to sleep happily!

Eye doctor (Ophthalmologist)

He reported “Insomnia is an occasional problem for me, sometimes affecting me for days at a time. Sometimes, I go to sleep easily, but wake up in the middle of the night. Then I can’t fall back to sleep. Other times, I just can’t fall asleep at all. Sleeping pills work, but I don’t really like to take them, and they are definitely not an option to take at 3:00 am if I have to get up at 6:00. I have practiced Mr. Chennapragada’s counting breaths technique for the last two years or so, and have found it to be a very effective way to go to sleep, or get back to sleep. I also occasionally use it to reduce stress as suggested in Mr. Chennapragada’s handout. I sometimes use it while sitting at stoplights. I am very thankful to have learned this great technique.”

Dr Paul Fellenbaum

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon

“As a medical student and now as a resident, there are numerous nights when I find myself awake in bed, thinking of unfinished tasks of the day and the challenges that await me in the morning. ‘Counting breaths’ has made a huge difference and helped me tremendously, particularly at night, allowing me to turn off the background chatter of my mind and focus on one thing, my own breath, which then allows me to get the rest needed to face the problems of the next day (1). I wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and prepared for what lies ahead. I would recommend these techniques to anyone dealing with stressors on a daily basis.”

Aparajit Naram, MD

A Rheumatology Specialist

“I have benefited from this technique and continue to hope for ongoing experiences. Focusing on breath using the ‘tip mode’ and ‘counting mode’ has been very beneficial to calm the mind. I have been experiencing insomnia and anxiety ever since I joined my medical college. I did not share this problem even with my wife.  After practicing these techniques, my sleep quality has improved phenomenally, and so has my ability to reduce the impact of the stressors of day-to-day life. “ 

Prashant Kaushik MD

Adult education professional 

A professional from a school system visited me to set up my seminars as part of adult education classes for some school districts. I gave her my handouts. At the end, in just 5 minutes, I demonstrated the folding mode and also made her practice it on one hand. After a few days, she sent me the following report. 

“Slept completely through the night, for the first time in years.” 

“I have also been using the breathing technique you shared with me at night. I am falling asleep much more quickly. The other night, I slept completely through the night, for the first time in years!  🙂  Thank you!

She was open to practicing the technique and enjoying its benefits of better sleep right away!

2012

Patients

Patient of Dr Padma Sripada reported, “Now I do not need my sleeping medicine.”

I had a lot of anxiety, stress, and a sleep disorder. Sometimes, my body would shake, and I would cry for no reason. I was introduced to the ‘Focusing on breathing’ technique when I came to Dr. Padma Sripada’s office. The first day I tried it,  I suddenly became so content and relaxed. My sleep has become a lot better, and I am more focused. It has allowed me to avoid my sleep medicine every night. It is great! You can practice this technique when you are just sitting around or when you are walking or jogging. Trust me, it will make a difference in your life.”

97 year old senior

I work in my daughter’s medical office as a manager. Occasionally, I meet with a patient, and depending on their receptiveness, I explain the tip or segment mode. I advise them to try it when lying in bed and needing to sleep. When I meet the same person at a later visit, I try to find out if the technique was tried and, if so, what it was like. 

Recently, I met a 97-year-old woman patient for the second time (a few months back, I explained the segment mode to her) and inquired how she was doing, without mentioning the technique. After explaining her current set of problems, she added on her own that she was using the breathing technique using the segments whenever she had difficulty getting sleep, and it was helping her calm her mind and fall asleep. 

She said she sent the brochure on this technique to her sister in California.

2011

A patient of Dr. Padma Sripada 

She read my hand out on Insomnia and practiced on her own. On my request, she wrote out this testimonial: 

“I had a lot of anxiety, stress, and a sleep disorder. Sometimes, my body would shake, and I would cry for no reason.  I was introduced to the ‘Focusing on breathing’ technique when I came to Dr. Sripada’s office. The first day I tried it,   I suddenly became so content and relaxed. My sleep has become a lot better, and I am more focused. It has allowed me to stop using my sleeping medicine every night. It is great!”

A patient of Dr Padma Sripada

She was suffering from Fibromyalgia for many years. 

“I have Fibromyalgia. I was first diagnosed with this condition in March 1990 after an injury that occurred at my place of employment a month before. For almost 19 years, I have had great difficulty sleeping due to extreme pain. After being prescribed many medications over the years, none compare to the breathing techniques demonstrated to me by C S.  Because of him, I can get many hours of consecutive sleep, which I was not able to achieve with the prior aid of a physician whose specialty is sleep disorders.”

My Clients

Click the above link

People practiced from the brochure or website

I have seen over many years that people are able to practice the technique on their own, after reading my handout, without needing any help from me or this website. It leads to enjoying better quality sleep, lack of which is a prominent contributor to several mind, body, and relationship problems.

A young lady suffering from chronic gastritis and skin allergies reported,   “The counting breaths technique is the one that I am benefiting the most from when I have to fall asleep after a long day. It is a great way for me to relieve my stress as well.”

A bank teller

I distributed my handout on ‘How to enjoy quality sleep and conquer insomnia’ to all the tellers at the SEFCU branch I do business with. Recently, one teller in her fifties said, “I use the counting breaths meditation every night. It just takes my mind off the day's incidents and gets me to sleep.’

A handyman

I gave the handout on sleep to the young handyman who worked on building our new house. When I come across him, I asked how it was working. Every time, he said happily, “Oh yes. It gets me to sleep quickly.”

A cashier at the UPS Store

It helps me in keeping things in perspective and get a decent eight hours of sleep every night. More….

A visitor to this website

E-mail message received from a visitor to this site. “Using the breathing method of counting breaths, I have been able to get to sleep. Thank you for your website.” He found this website, practiced the technique on his own, and enjoyed getting back to sleep!

After 8 years of learning this technique from my handout 

A manager in my past company in India (where this technique was initially tested) sent this feedback: ”I am practicing the breathing technique and got rid of my disturbed sleep”.

A woman reported on how it helped her ex-husband get over insomnia

“I have been practicing the  ‘Focusing on breathing’ technique for the last 6 months. I have experienced many positive changes, including losing my excess weight. Many people who knew me before, including my mom, noticed these visible changes and commented on them. One such person is my husband. Recently, he commented on how I looked happier and more focused. He asked what was behind this change. I told him about the technique and gave the handouts – one for quality sleep and another, containing the comprehensive guidance about the technique. My husband is a night shift worker and has difficulty sleeping during the day. He also has some heart problems. Against the advice of his heart doctor, he was drinking beer to be able to sleep. He read the handouts on the ‘Focusing on breathing’ technique and practiced it for the last two weeks. Two days back, he said that he was no longer dependent on beer to get sleep and drinks only occasionally.”

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Sleep problems relieved